Members of Alamance Community College’s Board of Trustees asked for opinions from the public on what characteristics the college’s next president should have.

Martin Nadelman, the current president, is retiring Oct. 1. A forum to gather opinions was held at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the college’s Graham campus. In a news release before the forum, trustees said they were hoping to hear from the business, government, educational, civic and non-profit communities.

Not many attended the forum. It appeared seven people other than college trustees, college employees and members of the media were there. A forum held among faculty and staff members held earlier in the afternoon was much more heavily attended, college leaders said.

Debbie Tuggle identified herself as vice president of career development services for Goodwill Industries. She said Goodwill has partnerships with Guilford Technical Community College, Randolph Community College and Rockingham Community College to help with training and job placement.

Nadelman, she said, decided against a similar partnership that could provide “more access (and) visibility” for how the college’s offerings could lead to jobs. She suggested the next president should be eager to form as many community partnerships as possible to reach the maximum number of people.

“We want to be a part of the solution,” she said.

Janyth Fredrickson, a retired Alamance Community College executive vice president, stressed the importance of leadership: “It’s critical that the president enjoy … reaching out to the community.”

Local artist Skee Johnson, who teaches part time at the college, was at the public forum rather than the employee one. He asked if people already working for the college would be considered for the job.

“There may very well be people here at the college who may wish to apply for the job,” college trustee Dick Fisher responded. “We certainly wouldn’t rule out someone who already works here.”

Besides Fisher, trustees at the forum open to the public included Doug Fincannon, Bill Gomory, Catherine Smith and Russell Wilson.

Wilson said attorney Jeff Andrews had hoped to be at the forum but had given him a list of desirable qualities for a president in case he could not be there. Those included the ability to keep technology, teaching methods and facilities as current as possible to meet students’ needs.

A presidential search committee has set a tentative goal of mid-July for hiring a new president.

Fisher said comments from the public and college employees will be considered as a presidential search committee develops a profile for the ideal candidate.